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JOSEPH HYDE, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 64,535, dated May 7, 1867.

IMPROVED FOLDING CHAIR.

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T0 ALL 'WHOM IT MAY OONCERN:

Be it known that I, .lossen HYDE, of the city of Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New Yorin have invented certain new and'useful; improvementsin Folding Chairs or Couches and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being hereby had to the accompanying drawings, which form and make a part of this specification.

Lilie letters represent and refer to like or corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my said improvedfolding chair or couch, showing the construction of the various parts thereof, and also showing the same as it would appear when used as a chair for any ordinary purpose.

Figure 2 is also a perspective, showing the back B depressed and the apron G elevated, and thus forming a couch or chair, for reclining or sleeping purposes, substantially as hereinafter fully described and set forth.

Figure 3 is a View, showing my said improved chair or couch as it would appear when folded to be packed for transportation, or when laid aside and not' in use.

Figure Gis a view, showing aportion of the seat A and arms D, at the point where the lower legs are fastened to the same, and also more clearly showing the construction'of the hinge by which thc seat A is fastened to the back B, each being more fully hereinafter described and set forth.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the arms, D, showing the manner of connecting the same with the apron frame C, and also showing the piece of metal or stop E, each being more fully hereinafter described and set forth.

Figure 8 shows the device which is attached to the upper end of the legs F F, and is for the purpose of securely connecting the said legs F F to the 4main part of body of the chair, and holding the said legs or supports in their proper place and position when the chair is in use. v

Figure 9 is the same device as shown in iig 8, only showing it attached to the end of the leg F, and with l the hook M thrown back, and more fully hereinafter described and set forth.

The nature of my said invention and\in1provements consists in attaching, at any suitable place and position upon a chnir designed to be used 'for a chair er couch, the regulator H, figs. l and"2, by means of which the chair may be permanently fastened and held in any position desired by the occupant of the same.

It also consists in attaching to the under side of the arms D D suitably shaped pieces of metal E E, pro- ,icctizzg forward and beyond the said arms D D, so as to form a stop or stops, and thereby prevent the chair lroiu assuming any more horizontal position than that originally intended in the manufacture, substantially as fully hereinafter described and set forth. l

It also consists'in disconnecting the front legs F F from the frame ofthe apron C, thereby allowing the suine to coinpactly fold without disconnecting the scat A from either the back B or the apron C, substantially in thc manner and by the means hereinafter fully described and set forth. v

It also consists in thc'employment of a hook or other suitable device, substantially as shown at M, S and 9, for the purpose of more securely holding, while in use, the frame of the apron C, in connection with tho legs of the chair F F, and at the same time allowing the same to be disconnected, when desiredvto fold the chair, substantially as hereinafter described and set forth. i

It also consists iu hinging the seat A on to the back D in such a manner as to allow thc chair to be more coinpactly folded when desired, and also to forni a more level or even surface when: the chair is in the form of a couch, as seen :it fig. 2, und fully hereinafter described and set forth.

It also consists in atta-ching, on the under side of thcjfoot-board P, thcA rollers R R, er their equivalents, operating in the manner and for the purposes substantially as hereinafter fully described and set forth.

'lo enable others skilled in the art to which my invention rela-tes to make and use the same, I will here proceed to describe the construction and operation of the same, which is as follows, to wit:

The front legs F F are designed to be detached from the frame of the apron C, by lifting them up and forward, thereby allowing the chair to fold more compactly, and without disconnecting any portion of the back,

` scat, and apron from one another; but, if it is desired, the lower legs may be detached from the frame of the buck ll in the same manner and by the saine means, thereby allowingr thc same to fold equally as conlpaclly.

(in the under side of one or bot-h oi' the arms D D I attach suitably shaped pieces of brass or other metal E, iig. T, which are for the purpose of holding the chair in a reclining position, as seen at fig. 2, and preventing the same from tipping lmclr-.rards any further than originally designed in the manufacture. The adjustable connection between thelegs F F or G G and the frame of` the body ci' the chair, at either point hereiubetorc mentioned, may be of any form 'or construction deemed best; but the one I have shown in the drawings, at figs. 8 and 9, is deemed by me to be the best adapted for the purpose required, and coasistsof suitably shaped pieces of metal Infig. 9, which is screwed or otherwise faste-fied on to the inside of the upper end of either the legs F or G. 'lhe said piece of metal L has a slot or recess, N, in the same, into which the pins or projections upon the frame of the body of'tlie chair slide, thereby holding thelegs in their proper position in relation to the other parts of the 4chairwlien the same is in use. .To more securely hold the legs F aforesaid in their proper position when attached to the body of the chair, I malte of the hook or its equivalent M, shown at figs. 8

and 9, which is fastcned on to the metallic piece Ii'by means of .a flexible joint, so that, when the legs F are connected to and with the body ot' the chair, by means of the slots and pins aforesaid, the hook M may bc thrown over the opening in the slot or recess N, thus and thereby forming a secure and permancntconnection between the legs F and the main part or body of the chair. The seat A isv connected with and joined to the back B by means of hinges, of a character adapted to that purpose, and of such aeonstruction as to allow the seat A to drop down a short distance below the lower end of the back B, whereby andV by means of which the chairma-y be more compactly and closely f'olded, as hereinafter described; and besi-des, by this arrangement or connection of the seat A. with the back B, a more ievel and even surface is obtained when the chair is in a position favorable for reclining. as shown at fig. 2. Upon the under side of the foot-board P I attach, in any manner deemed best, the rollers R R, which are for the purpose of more readily working the apron C, when it is designed to change the position of the various parts of my said chair, and also to prevent any undue wear upon the carpet or other covering upon which the said chair may be placed; It is sometimes necessary that chairs constructed according to my invention should be supplied with a device, by means of which the chair may be securely and permanently held in a position between that shown at fig. 1 and that shown at tig. 2. To meet this demand I attach the regulator H, or its equivalent, to the arm D and the seat A. This regulator H may be of metal or any other material desired. and in construction and shape such as will best answer the intended purpose. It is hinged at its upper end to the arm C, and by means of the'thumb-screw S thechair may be permanently and securely fastened and held in any'desired position, or at a'ny angle required.

The various parts of' my said improved chair or couch may be made of any material, and of any size and strength required, at the option of the manufacturer.

Having thus described the nature ofnny said invention and improvements in folding chairs or couches, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. I claim the connecting and disconnecting of the legs G or F from the main part 01 body 'of the chair or couch in the manne'ra'nd by the means, or equivalent means, herein specified, thereby allowing .the said chair or couch to be folded in a compact form without disconnecting the hack, seat, or apron from each other, substantially as herein described and set forth. v

2. I claim the employment of the circular hook or latch fastening M, arranged in combination with the legs or other suitable part of a folding'chair or couch, and operating in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein specified and set forth. l

3. I claim the rollers R, in combination with the foot-board? and apron E of a foldingchair or couch when arranged in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein described and set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of October, A. D. 1866.

JOSEPH HYDE.

Witnesses:

CHARLES D. KELLUn, R. H. REILLE. 

